Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations further amend the Social Security (Credits) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1975 (“the 1975 Regulations”).

Regulation 2(2) amends regulation 8B of the 1975 Regulations to provide that days on which a person would have been disqualified for receiving incapacity benefit in accordance with regulations made under section 30C of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 7), had there otherwise been an entitlement to that benefit by virtue of section 30A of that Act, do not count as days of incapacity for the award of credits. Regulation 8B is also amended to provide for the award of credits in respect of any part of a week during which an unemployability allowance was payable under the Naval, Military and Air Forces Etc. (Disablement and Death) Service Pensions Order 1983 (S.I. 1983/883) or the Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme 1983 (S.I. 1983/686).

Regulation 2(3) substitutes regulation 9C of the 1975 Regulations to provide for an award of credits in respect of any week during which a person was paid statutory adoption pay or statutory maternity pay.

These Regulations correspond to provision contained in Regulations made by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in relation to Great Britain and accordingly, by virtue of section 149(3) of, and paragraph 10 of Schedule 5 to, the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 8), are not subject to the requirement of section 149(2) of that Act for prior reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.

These Regulations do not impose a charge on business.